Position papers

Over the last decades, the European recycling industries have drastically evolved by modernizing and constantly innovating to turn more waste streams into new resources. By doing so, the sector has contributed to the development of new technologies and automated equipment made in Europe and exported around the globe. The European regulatory framework has accompanied these changes thanks to ambitious targets and a meaningful waste hierarchy. However, the recycling sector continues to be subject to a complex and ever-growing EU regulatory framework, which affects its activities. To ensure a competitive European recycling sector, which is part of a global industry, EuRIC advocates clear, effective and smart European policies which:

Incentivise recycling across the value chains;

Minimise regulatory burdens on recyclers, in particular on SMEs;

Guarantee an open and fair competition within Europe and with the world to foster a genuine internal recycling market.

EuRIC also advocates positive measures to ensure a consistent implementation of existing legislation across Europe.

Position on the Harmonized classification and Labelling for Cobalt Metal

EuRIC, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation, is substantially concerned by the proposal made by the Netherlands for harmonized classification of Cobalt metal. The proposal as it stands will significantly disrupt the value chain for steel, be it stainless or carbon steel, as well as for specialty alloys and will have a very negative impact on their recycling.

International Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout to work on new case: ‘Fast-Tracks’ for WEEE

EuRIC was proud to attend the first kick-off meeting of this Green Deal aiming to make shimpments of secondary raw materials faster and easier. ‘Fast-Tracks’ is the fifth case for the International Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout (NSRR) - after compost, PVC and non-ferrous metals from bottom ash and struvite. The case, initiated by Müller-Guttenbrunn GmbH and HKS Metals deals with the concept of ‘Fast-Tracks’ for WEEE: making shipments to compliant EU WEEE recyclers easier and faster. Article 14 of the European Waste Shipment Regulation provides ample basis for the concept of ‘Fast-Track Notification’, but implementation can be improved. For this case Flemish, French, UK and Dutch public and private sector experts are joined by Austrian colleagues to explore possibilities for commonly accepted criteria for pre-consents and mutual accepted processes, amongst other things. The Commission (DGENV) is following the case as an observer.

Stakeholder Consultation - Chemicals, Products and Waste Interface

EuRIC welcomes this Stakeholder Consultation Paper, which identifies correctly most of the problems linked to the current legislative framework that currently hinders recycling. This is all the more crucial as recycling enables the circular economy by turning waste into new raw materials and re-introduces them in the loop and while saving both energy and CO2 emissions. In addition, recycling is carried by companies, many of them SMEs, providing an unmatched infrastructure throughout Europe. Improving the interface between waste and chemicals laws is instrumental to foster a more circular economy.

Strategy on plastics in a Circular Economy - EuRIC position

EuRIC welcomes the introduction of the roadmap laying down the European Commission’s “Strategy on plastics in a circular economy” (‘the communication’). As outlined in ‘the communication’, plastics is an important material for the economy, and the next great challenge will be to decouple its production from fossil feedstocks. To achieve such an objective, plastic recycling is the only solution, but it faces a number of obstacles that different policy actions must alleviate.

EuRIC reaction on the Roadmap: “Development of a Monitoring Framework for the Circular Economy”

The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the EU initiative “Monitoring Framework for the Circular Economy”. Assessing progress and better understanding are important elements to realise the transition towards a Circular Economy that EuRIC entirely supports. This monitoring framework should focus on true indicators that can objectively assess the progress and avoid any distractions towards monitoring areas very weakly or not related to achieving this transition. EuRIC calls on the European Commission to seize this opportunity to create a monitoring tool which is able to identify the number of shortcomings hindering the transition to a Circular Economy.

Statement of EuRIC on the publication of the European Declaration on Paper Recycling 2016 – 2020

ERPA – EuRIC Paper Recycling Branch – is a founding Member of the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC), created in 2000 at a time where the concept of the circular economy had not yet become a major political and economic objective. It has since the outset supported the very objectives of ERPC and promoted the value chain approach that ERPC embodied. For the first time, EuRIC Paper Recycling Branch decided not to co-sign the new “European Declaration on Paper Recycling” 2016 – 2020.

Vote of the ENVI Committee on waste legislation - EuRIC concerned about negative impacts on competition in recycling markets

The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee voted on 24 January 2017 on hundreds of amendments tabled on the proposals reviewing the waste legislation. The vote resulted in certain improvements supported by the European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC). Nevertheless, recyclers regret that overall, on key issues, the outcome of the vote will impede the shift from a linear to a circular economy, if not corrected during the vote in plenary session.

Complex Waste Plastics Recycling Industry ‘Wish List’

This document summarises the shared opinion of some key players in the plastics materials recycling sector from complex wastes of durable products such as End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV’s) and Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) concerning the market drivers for change needed to promote a transition towards a ‘true’ circular materials economy in the industry.

Circular Economy Package: Joint statement by CEPI, EuRIC and FEAD

Leading federations representing the paper value chain call for the co-legislators to support the further increase of paper recycling and safeguard the “quantity” criterion in the definition of municipal waste.